New Bedford firefighters practice for the real thing

Training at the former Phillips Avenue School prepares firefighters for the murk and chaos of a live blaze, teaching them to seek safety and haul their colleagues out of danger.

CURT BROWN

NEW BEDFORD — "One, two, three, go!"

Four firefighters tugged mightily on a hose to try to lift colleague Justin Pontes, weighing nearly 300 pounds with his equipment on him, 8 feet straight up through an opening in a wooden prop.

It took them several attempts and their faces were covered in sweat when they finally managed to pull the 26-year-old firefighter through the opening. Then they grabbed a strap on the back of his gear and pulled him to safety.

The training exercise, designed to simulate the rescue of a firefighter who has fallen through the stairs, is one of several practiced regularly at the former Phillips Avenue School, which is used as an indoor training facility by the Fire Department.

Two scenarios are followed in the exercise: one in which the firefighter has fallen through the stairs and needs to be hoisted to safety; the other where the firefighter has fallen and is incapacitated and needs another firefighter to come down and help.

"I trust these guys. I knew these guys will work together," Pontes said. "All I had to do was hold on."

"You pray you never need it but it's nice to know it," firefighter Bob Lavallee said of the training.

The exercises conducted Wednesday are part of a 40-hour required classroom and field training program that each of the 236 New Bedford firefighters must complete, according to Fire Chief Michael Gomes.

The chief said they also practice the rescue of a fallen firefighter by using a maze prop they built in a large, former classroom. They insert wax paper in the firefighters' face masks to mimic smoke and place wires on the floor to cause entanglement and simulate the confusing and disorienting circumstances for a rescuer.

Firefighters also practice saving themselves if they ever become disoriented in a smoky building. Gomes said they are taught to radio for help and then go to a window where a ladder has been placed.

They come out head first, navigate the first few rungs on the ladder, then shift their weight around and finish coming down the ladder feet first.

This is the safest way to exit a burning and smoky building, the chief said. Flames burn atop windows and firefighters are taught to exit a window away from the fire.

"All the training is driven from actual events," Gomes said.

Federal regulations now require a minimum of two fully equipped firefighters to be on standby at every fire scene, according to the chief. Called "a rapid intervention team," their function is to jump into action if there's an emergency for a firefighter during a fire, a water rescue or any situation that is dangerous to life and health, he said.

The chief said the department had a frightening incident about 18 months ago during a multiple-alarm fire on Grinnell Street where two firefighters became trapped in an attic.

"We dodged a very serious bullet 18 months ago that caused us to reassess what we're doing," Gomes said.

He said the training not only teaches rescue skills but also prepares firefighters for ways to save themselves in the event of a real-life emergency.

The training is appreciated by the rank and file.

"Any training in a controlled environment is a good thing instead of learning this at the real thing," said firefighter Justin Runey.

"This just makes us better," Pontes said. "That's how it should be. It should be this way with every job."